Metal Guitar Guide: Gear & Skills Essentials

Table of Contents

Introduction

The history of the metal guitar is intertwined with the evolution of heavy metal music itself. Emerging in the late 1960s and early 70s, heavy metal built upon the distorted guitar tones of bands like The Kinks, The Who, Cream, and especially Jimi Hendrix.

Pioneering metal bands like Black Sabbath and Deep Purple took these fuzzy, overdriven sounds and cranked up the gain even further, forging the blueprint for heavy metal riffs built upon thick, heavy power chords. Tony Iommi’s downtuned guitar and Geezer Butler’s thunderous bass defined the Sabbath sound. Ritchie Blackmore’s fiery lead playing and Ritchie Lord’s keyboard textures shaped Deep Purple’s proto-metal approach.

As metal evolved through the 70s and early 80s, key innovations in guitar design helped spur its development. Brands like Gibson and Fender built powerful humbucker-loaded guitars ideal for metal’s high gain tones. Other manufacturers like Jackson, Charvel, and Kramer pioneered the "superstrat" design – hot-rodded Strat-style guitars with humbuckers and Floyd Rose tremolos built for lightning fast shredding.

The 80s thrash metal explosion saw bands like Metallica and Slayer push the limits of speed and aggression. Guitars evolved in parallel, with thin, fast necks and high-output pickups becoming the norm. As metal fractured into diverse subgenres in the 90s and beyond, modern metal guitarists have an arsenal of instruments tailored for extreme tones and techniques.

Today, metal guitarists have more options than ever before when seeking the perfect axe for brutality. This guide will cover the essential specs, gear, and skills today’s metal players need to craft the ultimate high-gain rig. Let’s get ready to shred!

What Makes a Great Metal Guitar?

When it comes to metal guitars, there are a few key features that set the great ones apart:

Pickups

The pickups are the most important factor in shaping your metal tone. You’ll want a guitar with high-output pickups that can produce thick, aggressive distorted tones. The most common types of pickups found in metal guitars include:

Active Pickups: These incorporate built-in preamps and electronic circuits that boost output and sustain. Active pickups like EMG and Fishman Fluence are known for their crushing high-gain tones.
Passive Pickups: These classic style pickups rely solely on magnets and do not have built-in boost circuits. Popular choices include ceramic and alnico humbuckers from Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio and Bare Knuckle.
Single Coils: While not as heavy as humbuckers, single coil pickups in the bridge position can provide cutting leads and add versatility.

Hardware

The hardware on a metal guitar needs to stand up to aggressive playing, frequent tuning adjustments, and potential string breakage. Key pieces to look for include:

Bridges: Floyd Rose tremolos provide divebombs and flutter effects, while fixed bridges offer maximum tuning stability. Quality bridges stay in tune even with heavy playing.
Tuners: Precise tuners that can handle lower tunings are essential. Locking tuners improve tuning stability by clamping the strings.
Frets: Choose medium or jumbo frets for bendability. Stainless steel or nickel frets last longer than standard.
Neck Construction: Bolt-on, set neck or neck-thru each have benefits. Stable neck joints prevent detuning.

Construction

The construction of a metal guitar should feature a solid body for maximum sustain and lightweight feel. Basswood, mahogany and alder are common metal guitar body woods. Neck profiles range from extra thin to rounded for fast playability.

Top Metal Guitar Brands

Metal guitarists have a wide range of excellent brands to choose from when shopping for an instrument. Here are some of the top brands that consistently produce high-quality guitars well-suited for metal.

Jackson Guitars

Jackson is one of the most iconic metal guitar brands. Many of the biggest shredders like Randy Rhoads and Marty Friedman have used Jackson over the years. Jackson guitars often feature fast necks, hot pickups, and super Strat-style designs optimized for metal playing. Some popular Jackson models include the Soloist, King V, Dinky, and Rhoads. Jackson offers guitars across a wide price range, from affordable import models around $400 up to USA-made customs over $3000.

ESP/LTD

ESP and its more affordable LTD line have become a huge name in metal thanks to their distinct, brutal styling and tone. Signature models from metal legends like James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica have further cemented ESP’s popularity. Key specs like EMG active pickups, thin neck profiles, and Floyd Rose tremolos make ESP and LTD guitars ideal for metal. Expect to pay $500 to $5000+ for an ESP or LTD depending on the model.

Ibanez

As one of the pioneers of the super-Strat, Ibanez has long been a go-to choice for shredders. Models like the RG and S Series offer fast, comfortable necks, great tremolos, and lots of tonal versatility. Ibanez produces high-quality guitars at just about every price point, ranging from great starter guitars under $200 to pro-level instruments around $2000 and up.

Schecter

Schecter has earned a reputation for making excellent metal guitars at very affordable prices. Many Schecter models offer premium appointments like name-brand pickups and exotic top woods that you wouldn’t expect at their modest price tags. From about $400 to $2000, Schecter produces a wide range of incredible metal guitars, including signature models for Synyster Gates and other metal virtuosos.

Pickups and Electronics

The pickups and electronics are a crucial part of dialing in your ideal metal tone. There are a few main types of pickups commonly used in metal guitars:

Active Humbuckers: These high-output pickups use a battery-powered preamp to produce a powerful, compressed signal perfect for modern metal tones. Brands like EMG and Fishman are known for their active humbuckers.
Passive Humbuckers: From vintage-voiced Alnico pickups to modern ceramic humbuckers, passive humbuckers are known for their warm, thick tone. They allow the natural resonance of the guitar to come through. Popular brands include Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, and Bare Knuckle.
Single Coils: While not as common, single coil pickups can provide crisp lead tones when split or combined with humbuckers. Some metal players use them for cleans and solos.

The choice between active and passive pickups comes down to personal preference and playing style. Active pickups excel at tight, aggressive metal rhythm tones. Passive pickups offer more tonal versatility across cleans and leads. The guitar’s wood and construction impact passive pickups more than active ones.

Having multiple pickup configurations is key for sonic versatility. Common options are H-S-H (bridge humbucker, single coil, neck humbucker) and H-H (dual humbuckers). Blend the pickups to shape your tone.

Quality pots, switches, capacitors, and wiring also impact your guitar’s overall tone and reliability. Avoid cheap electronics that can fail or introduce noise. Upgrade components as needed.

Essential Metal Guitar Accessories

Metal guitarists need robust accessories to handle intense playing and frequent tuning changes. Here are some must-have accessories:

Strings

For metal, use heavy gauge strings (10-52 or 11-56) to handle drop tunings without going floppy. Thicker strings also deliver a beefy tone. Popular brands like Ernie Ball, D’Addario, and Elixir make strings specifically for metal in gauges from 10-60. Try different brands and gauges to find your ideal balance of tone and playability.

Picks

Thick picks between 1-2mm are ideal for metal. The added thickness provides a percussive, articulate attack. Jazz III picks offer a small grip that fits comfortably for intricate playing. Choose beveled edges for effortless string release. Materials like ultem and delrin offer a smooth feel and long life. Grab a variety pack to audition different shapes and gauges.

Straps

A wide, padded strap provides comfort during long gigs. Leather straps look metal while absorbing sweat. Add strap locks to prevent guitar drops, especially if headbanging. Brands like DiMarzio, Ernie Ball, and Levy’s make straps designed for the demands of metal.

Cases

Protect your axe with a hardshell case or gig bag. Hardshell cases provide maximum protection when traveling while gig bags easily fit in tight spaces. Look for padding, neck support, and storage for accessories. SKB and Gator offer affordable hardshells, while Mono cases have modern styling.

Amps and Effects for Metal

A great metal guitar tone starts with having the right amp. You’ll want an amp that provides tight, aggressive distortion with plenty of gain on tap. Many metal players prefer tube amps for their warm, rich overdrive character and dynamics. But solid state and digital amps have come a long way too. Here are some amp features to look for:

High gain preamp tubes and channels – Look for amps with dedicated high gain channels, often with multiple ECC83/12AX7 preamp tubes.
Solid clean channel – While you may not use it much, a strong clean channel is useful for rhythms, leads and quiet passages.
EQ controls – Midrange is crucial for dialing in your tone. Look for amps with at least 3-band EQs on the lead channels. Graphic EQs help too.
Built-in reverb – While not essential, some reverb can help your leads cut through the mix.
Noise gate – Gates help tighten up your sound by reducing noise and hum when you stop playing.

Some great high-gain amp options include:

EVH 5150 III – The modern metal amp, with brutal gain and scooped mids. The 6L6 powered 50w head is a popular choice.
Peavey 6505 Series – Affordable high gain that defined the 90s metal tone. The 120 watt 6505+ combo is a workhorse.
ENGL Powerball – Versatile amp with legendary gain that works for any metal genre. The 100 watt head is the standard.
Blackstar HT Metal Series – Affordable lunchbox heads with tube preamps and solid state power amps.
Fractal Axe-Fx – Extremely versatile all-in-one amp modeler and effects unit. Great for home use and recording.

Now let’s look at essential effects pedals to shape and enhance your high-gain tone:

Distortion – Use a quality distortion like the Boss DS-1 for your core crunch tone. Stack it with your amp for more gain.
Overdrive – Boost your tone with a tube screamer-style pedal like the Ibanez TS9.
Noise Gate – Reduce noise during pauses. The ISP Decimator is a top choice.
Delay – Create atmospheric textures. The Boss DD-3 is a standard digital delay.
Reverb – Add a touch of ambience, like with the TC Electronic Hall of Fame.
Wah – Add expressive filter effects for solos. The Dunlop Cry Baby is iconic.

With the right amp and effects, you’ll be ready to forge monstrous metal tones, from crushing rhythm to searing leads. Don’t be afraid to experiment with pedal order and settings – that’s half the fun of dialing in your sound!

Techniques and Skills Every Metal Guitarist Should Know

Mastering certain techniques and skills is essential for playing metal guitar. Here are some of the most important ones every metal guitarist should work on:

Palm Muting

Palm muting is a must for metal rhythm playing. By lightly resting the side of your picking hand palm on the strings, you create a tighter, more percussive sound. Practice alternate picking riffs while palm muting to get used to this technique. Focus on keeping your muting consistent so notes don’t ring out too long.

Tapping

Tapping allows you to play extremely fast licks by using both hands on the fretboard. Use your picking hand to tap notes while your fretting hand continues holding notes. Start with basic two-note taps between fretting hand and picking hand. Once comfortable, expand to legato trills, sweep tapped arpeggios, and wide interval taps.

Sweep Picking

Sweep picking lets you play fast arpeggio runs smoothly across multiple strings. Start by practicing 3-string sweeps on a single fret. Ascend and descend through the arpeggio, making sure to use economy picking (single downstroke or upstroke per string). Once comfortable, expand your sweep patterns across more strings and move between different fret positions.

Mastering these techniques takes dedication and metronome practice. Start slow, focus on clean execution, then gradually build up speed. With enough practice, these skills will give your metal guitar playing more speed, precision and flair.

Tuning and Setup for Metal

Tuning and proper setup are crucial for metal guitar playing. Metal often utilizes alternate tunings and low string tension for massive, chunky rhythm tones. Setting up your guitar correctly will also ensure fast, fluid playing with solid intonation.

Standard vs Drop Tunings

Standard tuning (E A D G B E) is the most common tuning for guitar. However, metal guitarists often use alternate "drop" tunings to achieve heavier sounds.
Common drop tunings include Drop D (D A D G B E), Drop C (C G C F A D), and even extreme low tunings like Drop A (A E A D F# B).
The "dropped" low E string allows easier access to power chords and lower tunings. The tradeoff is looser string tension, which can cause intonation issues.

Proper Neck Relief

Adjusting the truss rod allows concave bowing (relief) in the neck to avoid buzzing on lower frets.
Too much relief will make the strings too high, reducing playability. Too little causes fret buzz. A correctly set up neck has just enough relief for low action without buzzing.

String Height

String height refers to the distance between the strings and fretboard. For fast, effortless playing, action should be as low as possible without buzzing.
Adjust the bridge saddles and nut to bring string height down. Compensate with more neck relief if needed.
Be prepared to adjust string height between alternate tunings to retain a playable action.

Locking Tuners

Locking tuners keep the strings securely in tune, even with heavy use of the tremolo or slack string tension from low tunings.
Locking tuners allow quick string changes while keeping intonation consistent.

Intonation

Intonation refers to the guitar’s ability to play in tune across the entire fretboard. Proper intonation is adjusted at the bridge.
With new strings, use an electronic tuner and adjust the saddle positions until notes fretted at the 12th fret match the 12th fret harmonic.
Check intonation any time you change string gauges or tunings. Quality hardware maintains intonation through tuning fluctuations.

Rhythm & Lead Playing

The foundation of great metal guitar playing starts with tight, crushing rhythm work. Focus on playing with precise timing and really digging into those chunky palm-muted power chords. Lock in with the drums and bass to form an unstoppable metal rhythm section. Work on alternating downstrokes and upstrokes to get even and consistent picking articulation. Let your rhythm playing serve as the brutal backbone of the music.

When it comes time for leads and solos, aim to create guitar lines that soar but don’t get overly noodly. Structure your phrasing around melodic motifs and licks that imprint on the listener’s mind. Make your bends, vibratos and slides sing with expression. Incorporate techniques like two-hand tapping, sweep picking, and pinch harmonics to add flair and excitement. Don’t just rely on pure speed and shredding – put feeling into your lead playing as well.

Experiment with different modes and exotic scales to spice up your lead lines. The diminished, harmonic minor and phrygian dominant scales work particularly well for sinister metal solos. Break out of the minor pentatonic box patterns we all default to at times. Challenge yourself to create memorable and creative metal guitar leads.

Conclusion

After reading this guide, you should have a comprehensive understanding of how to find the perfect metal guitar to unleash your inner shredder. Let’s recap some of the key points:

The most important features for metal guitars are high-output pickups, fast necks, stable hardware and construction that can handle aggressive playing. Popular tonewoods include mahogany, maple and ebony.
When it comes to brands, Jackson, ESP/LTD, Ibanez and Schecter are leading the pack in the metal guitar market. They offer high quality instruments across a range of price points.
Active pickups provide extreme output and distortion, while passive pickups offer a more organic tone. Make sure to get a versatile pickup configuration. Quality electronics are also essential.
Accessories like heavy gauge strings, thick picks and strap locks will help improve your performance and experience. Protect your investment with a hardshell case.
High-gain tube amps, solid state amps and amp modelers all work well for metal’s saturated distortion. Must-have effects include overdrive, noise gate, delay and EQ.
Palm muting, precise alternate picking, sweeping and pinch harmonics are fundamental techniques every metal guitarist needs to master. Proper right and left hand coordination is key.
Drop tunings are common in metal. Setting up your guitar properly for these tunings and fast playing is crucial.
Write devastating riffs and face-melting solos by learning metal rhythm and lead approaches. Experiment with different modes, arpeggios and phrasing.

The most important thing is to keep practicing, developing your skills, and finding your own sound. There are endless possibilities when it comes to crafting the ultimate metal guitar tone and playing style. We hope this guide has provided a solid foundation to start you on your metal guitar journey. Now get out there and start shredding! Let the distortion ring forth!